1 Stock Down 40% This Year to Buy and Hold

Core Viewpoint - Novo Nordisk presents a potential entry point for long-term investors despite recent stock declines, with a focus on its weight management pipeline and market opportunities [1][2][14] Group 1: Company Performance - Novo Nordisk's stock has decreased by 40% since January, primarily due to disappointing financial results and clinical setbacks [4] - In the first half of the year, revenue increased by 16% year over year to 154.9 billion Danish kroner ($24.2 billion), with a net profit of 55.5 billion DKK ($8.7 billion), indicating strong performance despite market expectations [12] - The stock is currently trading at 13 times forward earnings, which is lower than the healthcare industry's average of 16.2, suggesting it is reasonably valued [13] Group 2: Market Opportunities - The anti-obesity medication market is projected to grow from $15 billion last year to $150 billion by 2035, indicating significant growth potential [5] - Novo Nordisk has a robust pipeline, including an oral version of Wegovy awaiting U.S. approval, which showed an average weight reduction of 13.6% in clinical trials, outperforming a competitor's product [8][9] - The company is likely to be first to market with its oral weight loss option, which could capture a substantial market share due to patient preference for oral medications over injectables [10][11] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Novo Nordisk's main competitor, Eli Lilly, faced setbacks with its oral GLP-1 candidate, which may provide Novo Nordisk an opportunity to strengthen its market position [7] - The company is also testing another promising anti-obesity candidate, amycretin, in both subcutaneous and oral formulations, further enhancing its competitive edge [9]